Portable sheet metal reforming roller



Feb. 27, 1951 1 v. E. ROBBINS 9 PORTABLE SHEET METAL REFORMINGROLLER Filed Feb. 10, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

VERNON E. ROBBINS Fig. 5. 26 BY I 44 4 WJW L ATTOQN EYS Feb. 27, 1951 v ROBBINS 2,543,259

PORTABLE SHEET METAL REFORMING ROLLER Filed Feb. 10, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 & J VERNON E. ROBBINS BY M g 8. jfiOQh/EW Patented Feb. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PORTABLE SHEET METAL REFORMING ROLLER Vernon E. Robbins, San Lorenzo, Calif.

Application February 10, 1947, Serial No. 727,619 2 Claims. (01. 81-15) The present invention relates to methods and means for reconditioning distorted sheet metal surfaces; more particularly it relates to tools adapted to smoothen out dents or bulges in curved sheet metal surfaces such as automobile bodies, fenders, aeroplane parts, stove panels, and the like. 7

Instruments of the type here contemplated comprise usually a C- or yoke-shaped operating frame having a roller pivoted to one of its ends and a fiat anvil member secured to the other so as to provide support for the distorted body at the concave side of the disfigurement when the roller is applied to the convex side thereof to restore it to normal position.

Deformations of metal surfaces, such as fender dents, are frequently located adjacent to other rigid structures so that manipulation of a repair tool of the type discussed may be difficult, if not impossible, and it may be necessary to disassemble the damaged part to provide proper access and operating space for the instrument involving additional expenditure of time, labor and skill.

Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a universally efficient repair tool adapted to straighten out deformations of sheet metal surfaces.

More specifically, it is an objecttof the present invention to furnish a repair tool for sheet metal surfaces that is particularly suited to straighten out deformations which are not readily accessible.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an instrument of the type described which is adapted to effectively reach dents and bulges located adjacent to such rigid structures as may impede access thereto.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a tool for straightening out deformations in sheet metal surfaces, which is adapted for efiective operation in the vicinity of rigid structures that may limit the free mov ability of the repair tool.

It is a related object of the present invention to provide a repair tool for reconditioning deformed metal surfaces which requires a minimum of manipulating space for effective operation.

It is an additional object of the present invention to furnish a repair tool which makes it possible to straighten out inaccessible deformations of sheet metal surfaces without need for disassembling the damaged parts.

These and other objects of my invention will 2 be apparent from the following description of the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment thereof and wherein;

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a metal working tool embodying my invention; I

Figure 2 is a side elevation, similarto Figure 1, of the same tool in a different operational position; Figure 3 is an end view, partly in section, of the cooperating roller and anvil structures; Figure 4 is asectional bottom plan view of the roller and anvil taken along line 4-4 of Figure 1; v I Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of the anvil taken along line 5-5 of Figure 4, with the roller omitted; V I v I; I

Figure 6 is a side elevation of a metal work;- ing tool embodying myinvention in adifferent position of adjustment from that shown in Figures 1 and 2; v H V I Figure '7 is a side elevation showingthe metal working tool embodying my invention in yet another position of adjustment; and l Figure 8 is a sectionalbottom planview of the roller and the anvil in the position they assume when the tool is adjusted as illustrated in Fi ure 6.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 therepair tool of my invention includes a manipulating frame r lli of cor yoke-shape which may be of tubular construction, and which has an intermediate poi, tion II of flexible character so thatthe ends of its shanks I2 and I3 are capable of resilient dis; placement relative to one another in lateralas well as longitudinal directions. The end of the lower shank I2 is provided with a tubular recess I4 within which is rotatably received the stein I 6a of a U- -shaped bracket t6 as shown in Figure 1. Bracket It pivotally supports a roller I5 of hardened metal such as steel. Roller I5 is preferablyof barrel shape, such as shown, having a cylindrical mid-portion. A set screw I! is pro;- vided, to securely hold bracket I6 with roller- IB in any desired position of rotary adjustment relative to supporting shank l2. v v v The upper shank t3 of frame If] is provided with two stirrups or brackets 21] and 2|, respectively, which removably SupD, rt an arm 22 asshown in Figures 1 and 2. The left or forward end of arm 22 is provided with a tubular opening 24 within which is rotatably mounted the stem 21 of an inverted U-shaped bracket 28; 7, An anvil 25 is pivotally supported from a pin 29 mounted in the flanks of bracket 28. Anvil 25 is arranged to present a substantially flat sur- 3 face 26 of elongated rectangular shape to roller l5. The edges of the anvil plate are of a concave formation to seat a circumferential rubber cord 26a, as may be seen best from Figure 5. A set screw 39 is provided to hold bracket 28 with anvil 25 in any desired position of rotary adjustment relative to supporting arm 22. It should be notedthat the tubular openings [4 and 2G in the end of thelower shank l3 and in arm 22, respectively, preferably be of identical diameter and similarly the stems a and 2? of rollerv bracket 13 and anvil bracket 28 are preferably of identical size so that the position of roller l5 and anvil 25 can be reversed if desired.

The right or rearward end of .arm 22 (Figures l, 2, 6 and '7) possesses three notches a, b and 0, respectively, each adapted to engage the cross bar of stirrup so as to provide a corresponding number of longitudinal adjustments for arm 22 relative to shank 13. The stirrup 2i at the forward end of shank I3 is of a greater vertical depth than stirrup 20 so as to permit arm'22 to swing downward with the cross bar of stirrup 29 acting as fulcrum, until the flat surface of anvil 25 comes to rest upon the roller i5. A setting screw 32 extending through shank it of manipulating frame I!) and arranged to bear with its protruding lower end against the upper surface of anvil-supporting arm 22, may be operated to force anvil 25 toward and against roller I5, and thus spread the opposing ends l2 and l3 of the manipulating frame It apart. 7

In applying the tool of my invention to repair deformed sheet metal surfaces, arm 22 is first removed from the manipulating frame by lifting its notched end from stirrup 2G and sliding it forwardly out of stirrup 2i. Assuming that the damaged object be, for instance, a fender 313 having a readily accessible bulge or dent (Figure l), roller 15 is preferably so adjusted relative to its supporting shank I2 that its axis of rotation will extend perpendicularly to the plane of the manipulating frame whereupon set screw I7 is tightened to securely hold roller I5 in adjusted position. Similarly, anvil 25 should preferably be so adjusted that its pivot 29 will extend perpendicularly to the supporting arm 22 whereupon screw 30 should be tightened. Now roller i5 is pushed under the fender 34 to the back of bulge 35, and arm 22 is then reinserted into stirrups 2i and 2B. In case the location of the bulge is such that there will be sufiicient space to manipulate the tool, bar 22 is preferably so positioned relative to the upper shank [3 that its middle notch b engages the cross-bar of stirrup 26 as shown in Figure 1. As a result of the above described adjustments the pivotal axes of roller l5 and anvil 25 will now extend parallel to one another with roller [5 being placed directly below the center of the anvil face, in the manner illustrated in Figure 4. As the next step in the operation of my repair tool the pressure-setting screw 32 is turned until the operating face 25 of anvil 25 is pressed tightly against the fender. As screw 32 is tightened down, shanks l2 and i3 will be forced apart against the resiliency of the operating frame Ii]. Hence, the more screw 32 is tightened down, the greater will be the opposing forces exerted upon the fender by the roller and the anvil 25. In the individual case the extent to which the pressure-adjusting screw 32 should be tightened will depend upon the size of the dent to be ironed out, and also upon the stiffness of the material from which a particular fender is made. Generally speaking, the greater the 4 strength of the deformed material, the more restoring pressure will be required and the more will the pressure-adjusting screw 32 have to be tightened.

Upon proper adjustment of setting screw 32, the manipulating frame I0 is now firmly gripped with both hands and is somewhat turned or tilted in counterclockwise direction as illustrated in Figure 2. As a result thereof roller l5 will somewhat advance toward dent 35 while anvil 25 will slightly withdraw in the opposite direction and will swing clockwise on its pivot relative to arm 22 so as to remain in flat contact with the outer face of the fender. The described tilting of the repair tool will thus cause the centers of anvil 25 and roller [5 to assume longitudinally off-set positions relative to one another, as illustrated in Figure 8. It will also urge the shanks of the manipulating frame still further apart. In the above characterized position of relative displacement of roller and anvil the instrument is now drawn against bulge 35 with its roller l5 ascending the slope thereof. This will pry the shanks of the frame still further apart in the manner of a wedge having one of its converging surfaces in the plane of contact between the anvil face and the undamaged part of the work, with the other inclined surface being formed by the slope of the bulge 35. As the shanks of the tool are thus urged further apart, the forces of resiliency in the instrument H111 rapidly increase to a point where the stiffness of the fender material will no longer be able to withstand the upwardly directed pressure concentrated in the top of roller [5, and

the dent will yield in the direction of the cooperating part of the rectangular anvil face. The anvil, on the other hand, with the greater part of its face in flat contact with the undamaged surface of the fender will be unable to appreciably deform any part of the fender surface and will merely act after the fashion of an ironing board to limit the re-formative effect of the roller to the normal contour line of the fender. Thus, in the instant in which the dent begins to yield to the pressure of roller 15, the latent forces stored up in the resilient frame of the repair tool will turn into kinetic energy in the manner of a powerful spring and will operate the instrument in the manner of a lift lever having its fulcrum in the center of the anvil with the forces of resiliency engaging the rightmost part of the frame, and the top of roller l5 acting effectively as the power exertion point of the lever, so that the deformation is rolled back to normal position with a multiple of the force which the operator expends in pulling the instrument against the bulge.

The tool of my invention may equally well be applied in the opposite direction with respect to the deformation to be repaired, that is to say, the roller 15 may be positioned ahead of bulge 35 instead of rearwardly thereof. Then the instrument should be lowered or turned in clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 1, preparatory to the actual repair operation, so that roller IE will move to a position beyond the pivotal center of the anvil shoe 25 to again be closer to the ascending slope of the deformation than the shoe. The tool may then be pushed against the bulge, and its function and effect will in all respects be equivalent to that of the first described operation in which it was drawn or pulled against the deformity.

My repair tool may be applied in the described d:- manner as long as a particular bulge or dent is readily accessiblel Frequently, however, a deformation may be so peculiarly located that although it may be within reach of the repair tool,' there will be no space for the instrument to be tilted preparatory of the actual repair operation. Means are therefore provided in accord- I ance with my invention to establish such conditions as will cause the instrument to act in the manner previously described without need for tilting or turning the tool. As has previously been pointed out, the rearward end of anvil arm 22 is provided with three notches u, b and 0, respectively, corresponding to three different positions of longitudinal adjustment. In case it is impossible, for want of space, to tilt the instrument in upward direction preparatory to pulling it against a dent, the same effect may be secured by so adjusting arm 22' that its rearmost notch a will engage the cross bar of stirrup 29, as shown in Figure 6. Then pressure-setting screw 32 is tightened to obtain the appropriate amount of initial pressure corresponding to the pressure increase secured by the previously described tilting movement of the instrument. In the resulting position of arm 22 the pivotal center of anvil 25 will be disposed remote from the deformity as compared with roller l5, as may clearly be seen in Figure 6. Thus conditions are established for rendering the tool effective for a pulling or drawing operation as if the tool had been turned in counterclockwise direction. Conversely, when the repair tool is to be used for a frontal approach, anvil arm 22 may be adjusted to have notch c engage the cross bar of stirrup 20, such a position being illustrated in Figure 7. In this position of arm 22, anvil 25 and roller 55 are again offset longitudinally with roller I?) being disposed ahead of the pivotal center of anvil 25 as viewed from the intended direction of operation and upon appropriate tightening of pressure-adjusting screw 32 the tool may be pushed against the bulge with the same restoring effect as if it had previously been lowered in clockwise direction.

Whenever damage to a fender extends closely to the fender bead or car body, it may be diflicult to operate the described repair tool in the plane of its manipulating frame because the projecting end of the elongated rectangular anvil face ma strike against the obstruction and thus prevent the roller from effectively reaching all parts of the deformation.

In accordance with my invention, the described repair tool may be so adjusted as to permit proper treatment of inaccessible deformations of the type referred to.

For this purpose set screw 36 (Figure 3) is loosened and anvil member 25 is rotated into a position in which its longitudinal sides extend parallel to the particular obstruction. The set screw 33 is then tightened to hold the anvil member 25 in its newly adjusted position. Now set screw il should be loosened and the position of roller 55 should be adjusted to correspond to the changed position of anvil member 25; that is to say, the pivotal axes of anvil and roller should again extend parallel to one another. Due to the fact that it is now the short side of the anvil face that extends toward the obstruction, the operative elements of my repair tool may be approached more closely to the particular obstruction than was formerly possible, and owing to the resiliency of the manipulating frame in lateral as well as longitudinal direction, the tool of rubber or other flexible material provided around anvil plate 25 .in accordance with my .invention, as previously described, will prove of great advantage whenever my repair tool is applied to inaccessible deformations, because it will eifeotively prevent any damage to the contours or the finish of adjacent surfaces as might occur when the anvil edges strike accidentally against the car body, fender, beads or any other obstruction during manipulation of the instrument.

It will be understood that it will be necessary to apply my novel instrument repeatedly to properly iron out a particular bulge or dent and even after the dislocated metal has been returned to its original position to such an extent that the tool can readily be drawn or pushed across the damaged place, certain irregularities will remain due to the fact that the surface-restoring forces of resiliency decrease markedly as a dent caves in and the ends of the frame shanks are permitted to approach one another. It should also be remembered that due to the offset of the roller with regard to the anvil center the associated portion of the anvil face is liable to yield slightly to the upwardly directed force exerted by the roller and thus will not be able to accurately limit the restorative effect of the roller to the original fender contours. To obtain a perfectly smooth surface in line with the original fender contour, the pressure-adjusting screw 32 should therefore be further tightened until the shanks of the manipulating frame are forced apart to such an extent that the centers of anvil shoe 25 and roller l5 appear to be vertically aligned with respect to the anvil face, thus evening out any remaining irregularities by positive pressure. In this condition the tool should be worked over the whole area in zig-zag strokes following the contour of the fender until the formerly disfigured area is perfectly smooth and every trace of the original bump has completely disappeared. Now the tool may be disassembled by loosening pressure-adjusting screw 32 and removing arm 22 with anvil 25 and the operation is finished.

It should be noted that the above described applications of my metal working tool take very little time and will rarely require more than ten to fifteen minutes without need for hammering or filing or any other activity that may damage the metal structure or disturb the neighborhood.

I claim:

1. In a metal working tool comprising a yokeshaped frame having upper and lower shanks, a carrier arm removably carried b one of said shanks by means of shank-supported forward and rearward stirrups, said rearward stirrup being adapted to engage a depression in said carrier arm serving as a pivotal support for said arm, and roller and anvil members carried by said carrier arm and shank opposite thereto and adapted to be in normal alignment, said tool being normally operable initially by rotative movement of said frame to bring said roller and anvil members out of alignment, the improvement comprising the provision of a carrier arm having a plurality ofspaced selectively engageable stirrup receiving depressions along the lower edge of said carrier arm whereby said roller and anvil members may be brought out of alignment preparatory to operation of the tool without rotative movement of said frame.

2. A repair tool for sheet metal surfaces including a yoke-shaped operating frame having an upper and a lower shank, a rolling body revolvably mounted upon said lower shank, a stirrup supported from said upper shank, an arm having an outer and an inner end and possessing a plurality of notches along its inner end, said arm being disposed to engage said stirrup with one of said notches, an anvil member rockably 15 supported from the outer end of said arm and having a flat sliding surface arranged to face said rolling body, and means for positively urging the outer end of said arm away from said upper shank and toward said lower shank.

VERNON E. ROBBINS.

REFERENCES orrm) The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

5 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 121,682 Stocum Dec. 5, 1871 1,443,075 Guilford Jan. 23, 1923 m 1,737,084 Hilstad Nov. 26, 1929 1,880,246 Greiner Oct. 4, 1932 2,051,835 Ferguson Oct. 25, 1936 2,191,720 Meinhardt Feb. 27, 1940 2,251,030 Blevins July 29, 1941 2,352,009 Robbins June 20, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 693,344 Germany July 6, 1940 

